The
very same day I pulled my brand new 1999 Jeep TJ away from the dealer
parking lot, I began compiling a list of necessary modifications that
I would need to make the TJ a bit more trail-ready. Among the modifications
on this supposedly finite list of items was a protective, heavy duty,
gas tank skid plate. Needless to say, I put an offroad suspension,
tires, and lockers higher on the priority list than undercarriage
armor. Then one day, I took the new TJ out on the trail, and it happened...
the flimsy gas tank tin received its very first significant dent,
and from that point on, gas tank skid plate damage became common and
acceptable.

Recently, Kilby
Enterprises, in Burbank, California, introduced GTSP1 (Gas
Tank Skid Plate 1), which is made out of three pieces of 3/16"
steel plate, and was designed to completely replace the stock gas
skid, not just slide on over it like heavy duty skids from most
other manufacturers. This replacement of the stock gas skid gives
the new heavy duty skid, a comparatively unobtrusive profile. Kilby
Enterprises boasts a 3/4" ground clearance gain over the stock
setup. (unless of course your stock tin is severly dented in, like
mine was) At 60 lbs, not only can this skid plate dish it out, it
can take it as well.

The installation
of the Kilby GTSP1 was an easy process, although relatively intimidating
if you don't have any experience working with fuel systems. It involved
removing the gas tank from the vehicle completely. I drove the Jeep
till it was running on fumes before I started the installation in
order to make the gas tank as light and manageable as possible.

One of the first
steps is to dissassemble the fuel filler bezel. This is a simple
process that consists of removing eight screws, and the gas cap.

Underneath, right
near the top of the driver side shock, the "intimidating"
part comes into play. The night before I had horrifying visions of
spewing pressurized fuel, lighting myself on fire, my Jeep falling
on me, and the shop exploding. Needless to say, this never happened,
but although this process is very easy, if you are the least bit uncertain
of your ability, you should have a professional service technician
do the work for you.

All of the items
pictured to the left needed to be disconnected before we were able
to drop the gas tank from the Jeep. The high pressure fuel line needs
to be depressurized before you disconnect it. Consult a service manual
for information regarding how to go about this. After you have depressurized
and disconnected the line, expect a small amount of fuel to run out
of the line.

After the fuel
filler hose, the electrical ground, electrical harness, EVAP hose,
and high-pressure fuel line, were all disconnected, it was time to
work on unbolting the stock gas skid tin from the frame. The stock
tin is bolted up in seven different locations. Four of which are pictured
to the left under the rear cross-member where one's bumper is normally
attached.

The forward skid
plate bolts are located on the forward most side of the skid plate.
Their approximate location is pictured to the left.